Merlin (series 1)

Merlin series 1
Complete DVD Set Box Art
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	13
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC
Original run	20 September 2008 (2008-09-20) – 13 December 2008 (2008-12-13)
Home video release
DVD release
Region 1	20 April 2010 (2010-04-20)
Region 2	5 October 2009 (2009-10-05)
Series chronology
← Previous — Next → Series 2
List of Merlin episodes

Series one of Merlin, a British fantasy television series, began on 20 September 2008 and ended on 13 December 2008. Season one regular cast members include Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson, and John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon. Season one contains thirteen episodes and average 7.15 million in the premiere with 6.27 in the series finale and 82.19 million viewers in all episodes for its first season.

Before the series finale BBC confirmed that the series will be renewed for the second series, same main characters with another set of guest stars. Series two premiered last 19 September 2009.

Plot

Young Merlin is a teenager, discovering and then learning to master his gift for magic. Magister Gaius, the learned court physician of king Uther Pendragon to whom he's assigned as humble page, teaches him medicine, coaches his magical self-study and warns for Uther's vicious aversion from magic. Merlin becomes servant to the noble but imprudent crown prince, Arthur, whose fate is linked with Merlin's.

Starring Colin Morgan as Merlin Katie McGrath as Morgana Bradley James as Arthur Angel Coulby as Gwen Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon Richard Wilson as Gaius John Hurt as the Great Dragon (voice)

Recurring Michelle Ryan as Nimueh (4 episodes) Michael Cronin as Geoffrey of Monmouth (3 episodes) David Durham as Tom (2 episodes) Caroline Faber as Hunith (2 episodes) Santiago Cabrera as Lancelot (1 episode) Asa Butterfield as Mordred (1 episode)

Guest stars Eve Myles as Lady Helen/Mary Collins Will Mellor as Valiant Julian Rhind-Tutt as Edwin Kenneth Cranham as Aulfric Holliday Grainger as Sophia Alexander Siddig as Kanen Joe Dempsie as Will Frank Finlay as Anhora Cal MacAninch as Tauren

Episodes

№	#	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (million)[1]
1	1	"The Dragon's Call"	James Hawes	Julian Jones	20 September 2008 (2008-09-20)	7.15
Merlin's mother sends him to start a new life in Camelot, though upon arrival he witnesses a man being executed for using sorcery, so soon learns he must tread carefully. When he steps in to protect a manservant from Prince Arthur and encounters the Great Dragon, the young sorcerer begins an adventure that will determine his destiny.
2	2	"Valiant"	James Hawes	Howard Overman	27 September 2008 (2008-09-27)	5.40
Camelot is hosting its annual sword tournament and knights from throughout the realm come to compete. Among those hoping to win the crown is Knight Valiant. Armed with a magical shield, Valiant will stop at nothing to win his prize. Merlin attempts to stop Valiant's evil scheme before Arthur becomes the next knight to die.
3	3	"The Mark of Nimueh"	James Hawes	Julian Jones	4 October 2008 (2008-10-04)	6.30
There is an epidemic in Camelot after the water supply is poisoned by a sorceress, Nimueh, and Gwen's father falls ill. Merlin cannot understand why anyone would want to harm others with magic. Despite Gaius's warnings, Merlin uses his powers to help, only for Gwen to be accused of practising magic to spread the disease throughout the kingdom, causing her arrest and execution warrant.
4	4	"The Poisoned Chalice"	Ed Fraiman	Ben Vanstone	11 October 2008 (2008-10-11)	6.48
King Bayard of Mercia arrives for the celebration of the union of the two kingdoms. To gain revenge on Merlin, Nimueh poses as a serving maid and fools Merlin into believing that Bayard was conspiring to poison Arthur. However, this results in Merlin being poisoned in Arthur's place. In spite of his father's wishes, Arthur sets out to search for the antidote to save Merlin's life.
5	5	"Lancelot"	Ed Fraiman	Jake Michie	18 October 2008 (2008-10-18)	5.37
When Lancelot arrives in Camelot, he ends up saving Merlin's life from an attacking griffin. Merlin tries to help him become a knight, despite his lack of noble blood, but Lancelot only ends up being thrown in prison.
6	6	"A Remedy to Cure All Ills"	Ed Fraiman	Julian Jones	25 October 2008 (2008-10-25)	6.00
A new court physician, Edwin, arrives and his first job is to try and cure Morgana of a mysterious illness. Gaius is soon at risk of losing his job when Uther is impressed with the stranger's abilities, so he decides to call in his friend Geoffrey of Monmouth to find out more about him.
7	7	"The Gates of Avalon"	Jeremy Webb	Ben Vanstone	1 November 2008 (2008-11-01)	6.45
Morgana has a dream that Arthur is murdered by a beautiful girl and warns him of it, but Arthur's chivalry lands him in trouble when he jumps to the rescue of a damsel in distress, Sophia, and her elderly father Aulfric. Back in Camelot, Sophia uses more than just her feminine charms to take control of Arthur's heart. This strange behaviour doesn't go unnoticed by Merlin, and he sets out to try to prevent a tragedy.
8	8	"The Beginning of the End"	Jeremy Webb	Howard Overman	8 November 2008 (2008-11-08)	6.25
When the identities of a druid and his boy apprentice, Mordred, are discovered in Camelot, they are soon on the run from the guards, but when Merlin hears the boy's cry for help in his mind, he saves the boy. The druid ends up being executed, leaving the boy all on his own. Although the Great Dragon has told Merlin to be careful on who he meets, he still puts Arthur's life in danger keeping the boy safe. The Great Dragon tells Merlin that if he saves the boy Merlin can not fulfil his destiny - the young boy is going to kill Arthur.
9	9	"Excalibur"	Jeremy Webb	Julian Jones	15 November 2008 (2008-11-15)	6.47
The machinations of Nimueh begin anew as a mysterious knight arrives in Camelot whilst a ceremony happens of Arthur's coming of age, to challenge the knights of Camelot to mortal combat. It swiftly becomes apparent a secret of Uther's past has come back to haunt him.Turns out the black knight is a familiar face to Uther.
10	10	"The Moment of Truth"	David Moore	Ben Vanstone	22 November 2008 (2008-11-22)	7.03
When Merlin's village is attacked by Kanan, a fearsome raider, Merlin rushes home to help - and is surprised when Gwen, Morgana and Arthur insist on coming with him. It quickly becomes clear that the odds are stacked firmly against them. With dozens of lives at stake, Merlin's old friend William forces him to make a difficult choice between using magic to save his home and hiding his powers to keep Arthur's friendship.
11	11	"The Labyrinth of Gedref"	Stuart Orme	Howard Overman	29 November 2008 (2008-11-29)	6.71
Arthur kills a unicorn and everybody cheers for him except Merlin. Soon after, a curse strikes Camelot, which could see the end of the city. Merlin and Arthur must now pass the tests of Anhora, Keeper of the Unicorns, if they're to have any chance of saving Camelot.
12	12	"To Kill the King"	Stuart Orme	Jake Michie	6 December 2008 (2008-12-06)	6.31
When Gwen's father is imprisoned for treason (although being innocent) and killed at Uther's behest, Morgana decides she must take revenge. Merlin is stunned to discover just how far she is prepared to go when he uncovers a plot to kill the King.
13	13	"Le Morte d'Arthur"	David Moore	Julian Jones	13 December 2008 (2008-12-13)	6.27
When out on a hunt, Arthur encounters a huge monstrous creature never before seen. Gaius realises it is a Questing Beast, a creature conjured from the nightmares of a long-dead king, whose bite is always fatal. When Arthur faces the creature again, it is vanquished, but he is bitten and his life hangs in the balance. Merlin is told by the Great Dragon to seek the Isle of the Blessed, where members of the old religion have the power to save the future king. However, upon his arrival, he finds that there is a price to pay.

References

1. ^ "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB. http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500.